When I arrived at the meeting, my legs were heavy like rock. I couldn’t move them again when I saw the people seated and waiting for me. Our G.O, the church executive council members, mummy G.O, Deji, women leader and mummy pastor were all present in the meeting.

As soon as I entered, I was directed to sit on the only vacant seat. I took my seat with my head bent down. The secretary to the church executive council was the first to speak. After he acknowledged the presence of the G.O and other council members in attendance, he turned to me. “Sis Mercy, you left church some months ago, leaving your responsibility as the choir leader without a word. Now you are back with a baby, can you tell this gathering what happened?”, he requested.

I stood up and brought Shina down from my back, showed his face to all the council members and went back to my seat without saying anything. Shina is a duplicate of Deji, even a blind man could almost notice the resemblance. I guessed they understood my message as all of them said “hmmmmm” in chorus. After my drama, there was a short silence. The type that happens when they say “let’s observe one minute silence for the dead”. The silence was cut short when the G.O requested Deji to say what he knew about Shina and my sudden disappearance in church. He stood up and could not say anything. The vibrant and outspoken pastor became like a moron and like a sheep taken to the slaughter. Deji has never been this quiet since I knew him. The saying, ” You become the slave of your slave if he finds the stolen chicken in your hand” became true.

After about ten minutes, Deji still didn’t utter a word, the secretary to the church executive council stood up and said, “Silence at the face of accusation is a sign of guilt”. Pastor Olumodeji, you’re the father of sis Mercy’s baby. If you are not, deny now or face the disciplinary committee of the church. Yet Deji didn’t say anything. The meeting was adjourned for three weeks when the head of disciplinary committee would have been briefed.

The church secretary gave mummy G.O a letter for me. This time the church wants to conduct an independent DNA test to ascertain the paternity of my son. The letter contains the date, the time and the medical centre where the DNA will be conducted. I have no issue with the DNA test since it is going to be at the expense of the church.

It didn’t seem as if Deji was remorseful with all that happened. He came to my room anytime he needed sex. He does it without talking to me. I didn’t bother myself denying him anymore because I am now his wife. Moreover if I didn’t allow him, he would rape me. And to be honest, I wasn’t ready for all that even though I suffered severe pain and bled anytime he slept with me.